The Benefits of Nutrient Management Training for Strategy and Plan Preparation

We are updating this page to reflect current regulations.

Information on this page about regulations under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and the Environmental Protection Act is out of date. On September 18, 2009 new regulations affecting those applying non-agricultural source materials on agricultural lands were filed. Please visit www.ontario.ca/nasm-omafra for more information.

The information contained in this document is derived from the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and O. Reg 267/03 as amended. Every effort has been made to make it as accurate as possible, but it is not authoritative. Please refer to www.e-laws.gov.on.ca or the official volumes printed by Publications Ontario for the authoritative text of the Act.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Training Courses for Strategy and Plan Preparers
   • Regulation and Protocols
   • Fundamentals of Nutrient Management
   • Developing a Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan
3. Testimonial Accounts of the Training Experience
4. Obtaining Further Details on Training Opportunities

Introduction

As a result of changes to Ontario Regulation 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act (NMA), new or expanding farms of over five nutrient units (NUs) will be brought into the nutrient management program when they apply for building permits or intend to build earthen manure storages. When this happens, a farm operator will be required to prepare a Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS) for approval, and a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) to be followed and kept on farm for recordkeeping purposes and to produce in the event of an inspection by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).

Strategies and plans have to be prepared by certified individuals - either consultants who have taken courses, prepared sample strategies and plans, and passed an exam; or farmers who have taken nutrient management training courses offered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

Taking the training courses, like nutrient management planning itself, can have many benefits for farm businesses. Last year, OMAFRA ran over 50 nutrient management training courses across the province and over 1,000 people attended. The courses were led by Ministry staff with expertise in nutrient management planning who made the information as practical and easy to follow as possible.

Currently, OMAFRA offers several training courses, including three courses designed specifically for plan preparers that are mandatory for anyone preparing plans, i.e., to become a "certified individual." They are: Regulations and Protocols, Fundamentals of Nutrient Management, and Developing a Strategy and Plan.

Training Courses for Strategy and Plan Preparers

The courses offered by OMAFRA's Nutrient Management Branch are practical sessions that offer real-life solutions to agronomic and nutrient management related issues. In addition to providing a solid background in nutrient management, as well as the tools required to develop a NMS and NMP, this training can help producers save money on fertilizer inputs by using something they already have on farm.

These courses will be of benefit to:

• farmers or consultants preparing a NMS or NMP, as required under the NMA;
• farmers who want to know more about NMS and NMP requirements before selecting a consultant; and
• farmers who are not currently required to have a NMS or NMP but wish to voluntarily develop them.

1. Regulation and Protocols

This course will help consultant candidates and producers considering preparing their own plans to develop a familiarity with the key parts of the Nutrient Management Act and Regulations as they relate to having a NMS and NMP. This course will also help producers:

• understand their obligations under the Act;
• decide whether they want to prepare their own NMS and NMP, or hire a consultant; and
• become better equipped to work with a consultant (if one is hired) to develop an effective NMS and NMP (i.e., understand requirements, key terms and concepts).

2. Fundamentals of Nutrient Management

This course outlines the basic agronomic principles of nutrient management, including practical suggestions for tracking nutrient use and the benefits of using manure as a regular input on farm. It will help producers:

• build on their existing agronomic knowledge; and
• gain practical knowledge relating to nutrient management planning.

3. Developing a Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan

In this hands-on course, instructors guide participants through the steps of developing a NMS and NMP - using NMAN software specifically designed for this purpose - with the goal of enabling participants to comfortably develop strategies and plans by helping them:

• understand exactly what is contained in a NMS and NMP;
• recognize how to read and use a NMS and NMP on their operation (whether prepared by themselves or by a consultant);
• obtain the practical tools required to prepare a NMS and NMP; and
• understand how to use NMAN software for NMS and NMP preparation, and as a recordkeeping tool.

NMAN software is provided to all participants. (Basic computer knowledge is required.)

Testimonial Accounts of the Training Experience

Feedback on all three courses has been very positive, reaffirming that these offerings are not simply a mandatory requirement for certification but a practical means of providing the tools producers need to effectively manage nutrients on farm:

"It made me much more conscious of how important it is to do things properly, and with the age in which we live, to document properly the amount of manure you're putting on."

"I know how difficult it is to interpret legislation - the course does a good job and even if it doesn't answer everything for me, it gives me more specific questions to ask."

"By not using a consultant, I had hands-on experience. I know now what is required. I know what needs to be done, and I like the challenge of doing it myself."

"Good updates of management practices; useful to decide whether to hire a consultant or do it yourself."

"Everything I do works in conjunction with something else. If I want to do the best job I can, I have to cover all the bases, and that includes manure management."

"There's a lot of negative about Nutrient Management Plans. I think most of it has to do with people not understanding it. But once you understand the purpose of it, how it helps you manage your manure better, and the safety of the environment - personally, I think it's good."

Obtaining Further Details on Training Opportunities

For more complete details on these and other training courses, including information about dates and locations, visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca, click on "Agriculture," then "Nutrient Management Information," and then "Certification and Training." For further details, or to register for a course, interested parties can also call the Nutrient Management Toll-Free Information Line at 1-866-242-4460.